Brighton fronts the staycation nation
With barbeque weather predicted this summer and increasing numbers of Brits choosing to holiday at home, Brighton & Hove is hotting up and preparing for a rush of visitors over the summer season. Boasting more than half a million visitors during a festival-fuelled May and with a spectacular program of summer events and festivals planned, life really is a beach in Britain’s best loved seaside city.
Brighton & Hove’s sun-kissed summer events agenda includes White Air, one of Europe’s biggest extreme sports festivals, the family-themed Paddle Round the Pier, Beachdown Festival, Brighton Food and Drink Festival, Brighton Pride and the Brighton Carnival.
The official tourism guide - visitbrighton.com - has put together a series of holiday itineraries designed to help visitors plan the perfect Brighton break. From weekend stays to week-long trips, VisitBrighton’s plethora of fabulous activity suggestions will appeal to all tastes.
Celebrating all that is great about the renowned coastal hotspot, the city’s summer campaign - Life’s a Beach – is inspiring visitors by fusing traditional seaside fun with modern activities and events unique to Brighton & Hove.
To help visitors find their way round the city, renowned writer and broadcaster Simon Fanshawe has recorded six insightful podcasts bringing Brighton & Hove to life. Highlighting the things that make Brighton beautiful, the podcasts include iconic film locations, arts and sculpture and the city’s gay and lesbian history.
Be a part of something special this summer in Brighton & Hove and join in the fun:
Paddle Round the Pier, 4 – 5 July
Brighton & Hove’s annual Paddle Round the Pier beach festival is back and bigger than ever. With a free fun-filled program of activities including beach buggy displays, scooter challenge, pier to pier race and performances from some of Brighton’s best loved bands - paddleroundthepier.com.
Brighton Pride, 1 August
The biggest and best free Pride festival in the UK, Brighton Pride celebrates everything lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender in a week long extravaganza of events and parties. The festivities include a spectacular carnival parade and party attended by over 100,000 people in the city's Preston Park. This year’s carnival theme is ‘Beside the Seaside’ - brightonpride.org.
Brunswick Festival, 15 – 16 August
Celebrating the diverse nature of the stunning Brunswick area of Hove, Brunswick Festival offers a fun and friendly mix of foodie treats, street theatre and live music, as well as bric-a-brac and craft stalls in Brunswick Square - visitbrighton.com.
Beachdown Festival, 28 – 31 August
Set in a designated area of outstanding natural beauty on the edge of the South Downs, just north of Brighton & Hove, Beachdown offers an eclectic line-up of music, film and comedy. Legendary act Grace Jones tops this year’s line-up, as well as a host of international talent and the best of the Brighton bands performing on four stages - beachdownfestival.com.
Brighton Food and Drink Festival, September
The Brighton & Hove Food and Drink Festival is a celebration of the best food and drink available in Sussex. The festival returns to the city after boasting more than 50,000 people in attendance last year - brightonfoodfestival.co.uk.
White Air, 18 – 20 September
Europe’s hottest extreme sports festival freefalls into Brighton in September with a massive program of adrenalin-fueled activities and an impressive musical line-up. Boasting 20 ‘Have a Go’ sports to try and World, European and British competitions on water, land and in the air, White Air is simply unmissable. whiteair.co.uk
Brighton Live 2009, 30 September – 3 October
Brighton Live 2009 showcases Brighton’s wonderfully diverse, up-and-coming local music scene during a four-day festival. Every gig, seminar and event is free. brightonlive.net
